Arsenal gain double injury boost ahead of Premier League opener

Two key Arsenal players have returned to full training as Arsenal continue preparations for their challenging Premier League start.

Arsenal have received an encouraging boost ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season as both Gabriel Magalhães and Jürrien Timber both participated in first-team training at the Sobha Realty Training Centre today. The defensive duo’s return to full training represents a significant boost for manager Mikel Arteta as the Gunners prepare for their season opener against Manchester United at Old Trafford on August 17.

Gabriel missed the final months of the 2024/25 campaign after suffering a hamstring injury during Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Fulham in April. The Brazilian centre-back required surgery on the injury, with Arsenal initially stating he would target a return for the start of the new season.

Arsenal completed an extensive internal investigation into Gabriel’s injury, identifying concerns about player workloads following international duty. The investigation revealed that Gabriel reached sprint speeds against Fulham that he hadn’t achieved in two months prior to his international commitments with Brazil.

The 27-year-old defender has proven crucial to Arsenal’s defensive stability since joining from Lille in 2020, but his duties may be slightly relieved thanks to Jakub Kiwior and Cristhian Mosquera as rotational options next season.

Jurrien Timber’s presence in training marks another positive development following his recovery from ankle surgery. The Dutch international played through ankle and heel injuries during the latter stages of the 2024/25 season as Arsenal progressed to the semi-final in the Champions League.

Timber underwent surgery at the end of last season after what he described as a difficult period where pain levels increased significantly. The 24-year-old has shown remarkable resilience since joining Arsenal, having previously overcome a serious ACL injury that kept him sidelined for most of the 2023/24 campaign after suffering the setback on his Premier League debut.

The versatile defender played 48 times across all competitions in 2024/25, demonstrating his importance to Arsenal’s system with his ability to operate across the back line His return adds crucial depth to Arsenal’s defensive options as they prepare for another demanding campaign.

While both Gabriel and Timber return to full fitness, Riccardo Calfiori was not spotted in Arsenal training since their return to England, after suffering an injury during the Asia pre-season tour.

The timing of both players’ returns proves particularly significant given Arsenal’s challenging start to the 2025/26 season. Following their opening fixture at Manchester United, the Gunners face newly-promoted Leeds United at home before a daunting trip to Anfield to face defending champions Liverpool at the end of the month.